Robot cleaner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robot cleaners face reduced running performance and sliding capability on obstacles due to main wheels with smaller diameters and degraded ground contact force, limiting their effectiveness in navigating varied terrains.
Innovation Solution
A robot cleaner design featuring a driving pulley system with smaller diameter driven pulleys and an elastically-transformable belt forming a closed loop, providing increased ground contact area and balanced force distribution, along with a suspension unit for enhanced sliding performance on obstacles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If main wheels with smaller diameter are used, then the robot cleaner can navigate under furniture and in tight spaces, but the sliding performance on obstacles is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a flexible belt instead of rigid wheels to create a compliant running unit. The belt can deform and wrap around obstacles, providing both the adaptability to navigate tight spaces and the reliability to slide on obstacles through elastic transformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The running unit transitions from static rigid wheels to a dynamic flexible belt system that can change its shape and configuration in response to terrain variations, enabling it to adapt to both tight spaces and obstacles.
2Shape
If main wheels with smaller diameter are used, then the robot cleaner has a lower profile for navigating under furniture, but the ground contact force is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple contact points into a continuous flexible belt that distributes ground contact force along its length. This combines the low profile advantage with enhanced ground contact capability through distributed force across the entire belt length.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible belt provides a continuous surface that maintains contact with the ground along its entire length, distributing the robot's weight and providing consistent ground contact force while maintaining a low profile.
3Reliability
If a belt system with multiple pulleys is used, then the ground contact area is increased for better sliding performance, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible belt serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides ground contact for propulsion, acts as a suspension element through its elasticity, and enables obstacle sliding through deformation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, offsetting the added complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The configuration enhances the robot cleaner's sliding performance on obstacles by increasing ground contact area and allowing inward elastic transformation of the belt, resulting in improved navigation capabilities on uneven surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
The belt may be formed of an elastically-transformable material, and empty spaces for inward-elastic transformation of the belt may be formed between the driving pulley and the first driven pulley, and between the driving pulley and the second driven pulley
Data Source
AI summary
A robot cleaner includes: a cleaner body; a driving unit configured to provide a driving force; a driving pulley connected to the driving unit, and formed to be rotatable by receiving the driving force from the driving unit; first and second driven pulleys disposed at both sides of the driving pulley; and a belt forming a closed loop by entirely enclosing the driving pulley and the first and second driven pulleys, and configured to rotate the first and second driven pulleys when the driving pulley is rotated.